ISLAMABAD, February 26, 2013: The seventh sitting of Senate’s 91^st session witnessed passage of one bill amid low attendance of Senators. Eight were present at the outset and 32 at the adjournment whereas a maximum of 48 Senators was observed at one time.

The unanimously passed Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2013 seeks to stream line the registration and regulation of the private educational institutions operating in Islamabad. Additionally, The Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS) Islamabad Bill 2013 was referred to the concerned standing committee.

A motion to make a numeric amendment in rule 269, sub-rule (4) of the rules and procedures and conduct of business of the Senate 2012 was passed by the house. Also, the Minister-in-Charge Cabinet Secretariat presented a report of the National Economic Council for the financial year 2011-2012.

A calling attention notice regarding a decision of the international court on Kishanganga hydro electricity project in response to Pakistan’s appeal for interim measure against the dam; was taken up by the house.

Ten points of orders consumed 40 minutes.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• Senate met for an hour and 58 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1124 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1030 hours, witnessing a delay of 54 minutes.
• The Chairman chaired the sitting.
• The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PML, ANP and NP were present whereas those of PMLF, JIUF, and BNPA did not attend the sitting.
• Eight senators were present at the outset while 32 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 48 senators were present at one point of the sitting.

• Two minority senators attended the sitting.
• Five Senators applied for leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• A PMLN and an independent senator jointly sponsored a calling attention notice to draw the attention of the Minister for Water and Power to the matter of approval granted to Indian authorities to construct the Kisanganga hydro electricity project against Pakistan’s appeal for interim measures against the dam. The motion received response from the concerned ministry.
• The house passed a motion to make a numeric amendment of rule 269, sub-rule (4) of the rules and procedures and conduct of business of the Senate 2012.

Output

• One Bill – The Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2013 was unanimously passed. Also, The Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS) Islamabad Bill 2013 was referred to the concerned Standing Committee.
• The Constitution (Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill 2013 was deferred on the request of the concerned minister (Law and Justice Minister).
• The Minister-in-Charge Cabinet Secretariat presented the annual report of the National Economic Council for the financial year 2011-2012.

Order and Institutionalization

• Ten points of order consumed 40 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to legislators, observers and others.
• Information on senators’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), a member organization of FAFEN